Highlights
- BioShock 4 is confirmed to be in active development with Cloud Chamber taking the lead, which includes original BioShock developers.
- The game's setting is expected to be unique, which is important for the franchise, but it may not be the biggest challenge for BioShock 4.
- BioShock's previous games are known for their groundbreaking twists, and BioShock 4 will have a tough time outdoing them to truly feel like a successor to fans.
The BioShock series is one of the most revered single-player video game franchises of all time, and that's pretty impressive considering the series currently only has three mainline entries, all of which came within just six years of one another. Thankfully, BioShock 4 is confirmed to be in active development now. While it may not be under the helm of Ken Levine or Irrational Games, Cloud Chamber does seem to be the right studio for the job, with former Executive Producer for Firaxis Kelley Gilmore leading the studio and several original BioShock devs working on the sequel.
Currently, there isn't really a lot known about BioShock 4, at least not from any official sources. There have, however, been a good few leaks and rumors over the last year or so, and while these should always be taken with a huge pinch of salt, they do point to the game having a fairly unique setting, something that's always been pivotal to the BioShock franchise. But while having an immersive, unique setting is vital for BioShock 4, it might not actually be the sequel's greatest challenge in the end. Coming up with another iconic story twist could prove far harder.
Why BioShock 4 Should Be More Like the First Game, Less Like Infinite
BioShock 4 has to come out swinging given the current gaming climate, and its best hope could be to look to the 2007 original for guidance.
The Setting Isn't BioShock 4's Biggest Obstacle
BioShock's Twists Have Become a Staple
The first BioShock features a twist so shocking that it's become one of the series' defining moments. Right toward the end of BioShock's main story, after fighting through the vast majority of the underwater city of Rapture, players will encounter Andrew Ryan, one of the core leaders of the city. Tasked with murdering the man by a mysterious voice known as Atlas, the player confronts Ryan, who proceeds to tell the player that they've been suffering from Atlas' mind-control throughout the game, with the phrase "Would You Kindly?" triggering them into submission.
While BioShock 2 didn't really have much in the way of a big twist like the first game's "Would You Kindly" reveal, a major twist found its way to 2013's BioShock Infinite. In fact, BioShock Infinite doesn't have just one earth-shattering twist, but several. A game centered around rifts in reality long before the MCU made it the new cool thing, BioShock Infinite's first twist reveals that Elizabeth is actually the player's daughter, having been ripped through time and space. The next twist reveals that player-character Booker is actually one and the same as the main antagonist Comstock, both being alternate reality versions of one another.
With both BioShock and BioShock Infinite having truly monumental twists, it's kind of cemented BioShock as a series that now needs to contain twists. So while BioShock 4's setting is obviously one of its most important elements, and Cloud Chamber really needs to knock it out of the park, many fans are also expecting the game to follow suit and have some kind of major twist during its final act. If there isn't one, then it runs the risk of not feeling like a true BioShock successor to some fans.
BioShock 4 Is Going to Have a Tough Time Outdoing Its Predecessors' Twists
The big issue here is that BioShock 4 can't just have a major twist for the sake of it. BioShock and BioShock Infinite's twists are regarded as some of the greatest in gaming history, still being discussed and dissected today. BioShock and Infinite's twists aren't just flash-in-the-pan moments to add shock value, but twists that completely change the entire outlook of the game's story and character dynamics, and it immediately encourages players to play through the game again from the very start in an attempt to spot all the clues and foreshadowing. BioShock 4 is definitely going to have a tough time trying to outdo the original series' twists.
